Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication: 09/01/2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Thoughts: 
I have heard a lot about this book ever since it was released last year. I hesitated to pick it up because I am not typically a huge fan of YA contemporary. However, I read a sampler for it a few weeks ago and fell in love. This book really surprised me and I loved it 

I really connected with the characters and felt for them especially Maddie. I think she had appropriate feelings about her illness and it's impossible to imagine living a life where you are never allowed to leave or see anybody besides your mother and your nurse. I also really enjoyed Olly's character. He seemed like he could be a real person. Sometimes I fell like in contemporary books the romantic interests are too perfect or too mature to be real. Olly however wasn't too perfect. 

I also really like that this book approached the topic of sex in a real way. Normally, YA books only imply to sex or even avoid it all together. This one didn't do that. It didn't describe it in any great detail but you clearly knew that it happened. They also were open about protection which is important for readers to see. We all know teenagers have sex, so I like when book don't avoid the topic. 

All in all, this book was fantastic. It takes some serious turns and the ending fully surprised me. I highly recommend this book to contemporary or YA readers. It's fun, addictive and super easy to flow through. I almost read it in one sitting, which I never do. All the thumbs up.

Review: Seed by Lisa Heathfield

Genre: Contemporary, YA
Publication: 03/10/2015 by Running Press Kids
Pages: 336 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
All that Pearl knows can be encapsulated in one word: Seed. It is the isolated community that she was born into. It is the land that she sows and reaps. It is the center of her family and everything that means home. And it is all kept under the watchful eye of Papa S.

At fifteen years old, Pearl is finally old enough to be chosen as Papa S’s companion. She feels excitement... and surprising trepidation that she cannot explain. The arrival of a new family into the Seed community — particularly the teenage son, Ellis — only complicates the life and lifestyle that Pearl has depended upon as safe and constant. 

Ellis is compelling, charming, and worldly, and he seems to have a lot of answers to questions Pearl has never thought to ask. But as Pearl digs to the roots of the truth, only she can decide what she will allow to come to the surface.

My Thoughts:
This book kind of bored me. I picked this up because I find cults extremely interesting and this seemed up my ally. However, it never grabbed me and I considered putting it down a few times. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story progressed really slowly. It wasn't a bad story by any means. It had some good aspects and a good build up that was quite unsettling at times. 

I also found that the ending was very rushed. The conclusion was only about 15-20 pages long and I wanted so much more. The ending was also kind of opened ended and I wish we had a little about what happened after these events. Especially since the characters were so sheltered/brainwashed by this cult. Another thing that I wished happened was that Pearl, the main character, would have showed more character growth quicker. It look a long time for her to even question their way of life. I understand that in these situations that it's extremely difficult to question what's going on but in the book I wanted to see her thought process more.

All in all, this wasn't a terrible book but I just wasn't hooked. It took more over a week to read this, even though it isn't a very long book and the margins are HUGE. If you are really into YA fiction and you want a kind of dark contemporary, check this one out.

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Genre: YA, Dystopian
Publication: 02/04/2015 by HarperCollins
Series: Shatter Me #3
Pages: 409 Pages
Source: Hardcover
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.

My Thoughts
I finally read this book! How long have I been saying I was going to read this book? Months! I did it, another series done. High fives for me. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. If you have been following my reviews, then you know that I didn't overly enjoy the first 2 books in this series. I only found Shatter Me and Unravel Me to be just okay and problematic so I was very surprised on how much I enjoyed Ignite Me. 

Now, I still don't think Ignite Me is perfect. I still find the romance to be quite problematic. Warner did grow on me but I do still think the whole relationship isn't the healthiest. However, I can look past all of that if I am enjoying the story. This book is about 75% romance love triangle drama and I couldn't get enough. I felt like I was reading a soap opera. I can see why so many people are into this series now.  I am a sucker from romance, what can I say?

I did find that this book wrapped up very quickly. The action at the end only consisted of a few short chapters. I wish that some more attention was put on how they were going to overthrow the Resistance and some of the aftermath from what occurred. It all just seemed too easy. However, I am still in shock that I actually really enjoyed his book and I am excited to pick up other this the Tahereh Mafi writes. 

Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Publication: 03/24/2009 by Margret K. McElderry Books
Series: The Mortal Instruments #3
Pages: 541 Pages
Source: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

My Thoughts: 
I am going to admit it now, I didn't want to like this book. I felt very meh about the first 2 books in the series and I didn't want to like this one so that I could just quit the series all together. But I actually really enjoyed this book. It was exciting and I actually started to connect with the characters. I can see why some people are very much obsessed with this series and I decided to continue on with the series. 

However, I do still have some issues with the series. I'm not a huge fan of Jace, I am not a fan of the tropes his character follows. He's not a guy I am attracted to so I don't get a strong connection to his character. The romance-ishness between Clary and his character made me want to facepalm in the first 2 books but in this book I bought into it for the first time. I saw the chemistry for the first time and I shipped it.

The only reason I am a little hesitant about continuing on with this series is that this book feels like the end of a trilogy. I know it was originally meant to be a trilogy so that's why I feel this way. I just don't know how the series is going to continue, which is what is making me want to continue. My library has the whole series on audio so that is probably how I am going to finish it. 

Conclusions: This one was much better than the first two books, it's seriously growing in me. It was fast paced and exciting. I am really digging the paranormal elements and if you are into those kind of things check out this series. 

Review: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, YA, Middle Grade
Publication: 10/06/2015 by Hyperion Books
Series: Magnus Chase and the God's of Asgard
Pages: 507 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

My Thoughts: 
If you are looking for action and adventure, Rick Riordan is your man. In his usual style, boy finds out he is the son of a god and madness ensues. I do enjoy Rick Riordan's books, I have read The Percy Jackson series. I haven't read any of his other series yet but I am planning on starting Hero's of Olympus soon.  However, I do find them to be intended for a younger audience than myself. I'm not old by any means but I do enjoy some adult content. But if you are looking for an awesome book for a young audience, Rick is your man.

Something I really enjoyed about Magnus Chase was that the characters were very diverse. There was Sam who is Muslim and wears a magical hijab; Then Hearthstone is a deaf elf, which is also really cool. Magnus himself is even homeless, so there is a lot of elements that you never see in other novels. I was really awesome to read from people with all kinds of different experiences.

However, what detracted from the book was that I found Magnus Chase to be very similar to Percy Jackson. They are different characters and they are put into different situations but if someone told me that Magnus was Percy, I would believe them. I am not sure if this is because Riordan's style of writing is very similar in both books but I think this is something that only I have noticed.

All-in-all, I had a good time reading The Sword of Summer and I will be continuing on with Magnus Chase. It's a fun action filled adventure and I really do enjoy Rick's take on all the different Gods. I do however want to read Hero's of Olympus before I continue on in Magnus' world. I think I'll need to know what happened with Annabeth in those books before I keep going.

Conclusions: If you love Rick Riordan, I definitely recommend Magnus Chase. It was not too shabby.                                                                                                                                                               

  
                                                                                                         

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 07/04/2014 by Henry Holt
Series: The Remnant Chronicles
Pages: 492 Pages
Format: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

My Thoughts:
I have been waiting to read this forever! When I saw that it was available on audiobook through my library, I grabbed it. I wasn't as impressed by this book as I wanted to be. I did enjoy this book but I wasn't completely blown away. I really liked the concept: princess runs away, and is followed by an assassin and the prince she was suppose to marry. I do think that this was done very well, and I didn't guess who was who until it was relieved. It always kept you on your toes, especially when she was with these guys. However, this set up does end up creating love triangles which I felt strange about. I knew going in that it would happen but I just wanted Leah to be with one of these guys. I think she only truly has feelings for one and not the other. 

Leah was an awesome character. I really enjoyed her character development and I really enjoy that her strength isn't a physical strength. She isn't a total badass, but she still is very brave and intelligent. She understands the repercussions of her actions, and allows them to shape who she is becoming. 

I found the pacing in this book to be slow. There wasn't as much action as I expected, it's mostly character driven story with lots of politics between different nations in the world. The world building was interesting but not much different than other fantasy books I have read. I think I was even getting it confused with other worlds in different books. I like my fantasy worlds to be distinct, sure there are going to be some similarities but I don't want to confuse worlds. 

Conclusions: Enjoyable story with a very interesting premise. I can see great things coming from the sequel, but I was slightly underwhelmed by this one. If you like fantasy with some romance, check this one out. 

Quote: "Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods…
But even the great can tremble with fear.
Even the great can fall"

Review: Snow Like Ashes - Sara Raasch

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 10/14/14 by Balzer + Bray
Series: Snow Like Ashes Series
Pages: 416 Pages
Format: Library Audiobook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: 
Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since. Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


My Thoughts: 
I absolutely loved Snow Like Ashes! I haven't been so excited about a book for a long time. The story was beautifully crafted and I loved the world this took place in. I really enjoyed the combination of the rhythm kingdoms and the season kingdoms, it added a lot of depth to the story. Tension and political intrigue is present between all the kingdoms adding a whole extra element to the story. Winter had been enslaved by the Spring Kingdom. So you really feel for the Winterians' and throughout the book I had no idea how they'd be rescued from slavery.

Meira was an awesome main character. She didn't have the "I'm so special" main character complex which I appreciated. She was strong, brave and just wanted to mean something to Winter. It was interesting to see her internal struggles to feel connected to a kingdom she had never really known. This book does however have a slight love triangle, however it is one that makes sense. I am not sure how this will play out in the rest of the trilogy but I hope it never becomes the prominent story line. Both of these boys however are very swoon worthy. Prince Theron is the charming, gentleman you dream of sweeping you off your feet and making you a Princess.

The ending was fantastic. It wrapped things up in this story but leaves so much open to happen in the following books. I don't know how the sequel is going to play out but I already have it pre-ordered! I am dying to know what's going to happen to these characters and their kingdom.

Conclusions: Clearly, I loved this book. It easily became one of my favourites this year. If you are a fan of fantasy, seriously try this one out. It's got great characters and amazing world building. Read it!

Review: Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez Greene

Genre: YA, Realistic Fiction, Religion, Cults
Publication: 03/09/10 by Simon Pulse
Pages: 215 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Summary

Alva Jane has never questioned her parents, never questioned her faith, never questioned her future. She is content with the strict rules that define her life in Pineridge, the walled community where she lives with her father, his seven wives, and her twenty-eight siblings. This is the only world Alva has ever known, and she has never thought to challenge it. 

But everything changes when Alva is caught giving her long-time crush an innocent first kiss. Beaten, scorned, and now facing a forced marriage to a violent, fifty-year old man, Alva suddenly realizes how much she has to lose--and how impossible it will be to escape. 

 My Thoughts
This book follows a girl named Alva Jane who is apart of the FLDS which is a Fundamentalist Branch of the Mormon Church. This community practices polygamy. I have been interested in this topic for awhile but it was still tough to read from the voice of someone in the community. This is a fictional story but as far as I can tell it's realistic to events that really happen in the community. 

This story itself was pretty good, but it wasn't exceptional. I learned a lot about the FLDS community and the situations that a lot of the girls are put in. The plot is realistic, as far as I can tell. The sequence of events that Alva is forced to go through really would drive the decisions she made if this happened in real life. Alva is a strong character, she shows a great deal of character development. In the beginning, she was blindly following the faith but after a series of events she starts to think more critically about the religion and community she is trapped in. 

This is a very short book, only just over 200 pages but I think that it was a perfect length to tell the story that was needed to be told. The story was fast paced and didn't drag. I had a few issues with this book, first the book was written in Alva's point of view so in the beginning she was still very brain washed. This was good to show character development but I found I was kind of being preached at. I also found it hard to read from the view of a girl who thought she was a possession for a man. I was prepared for that when I started reading but the feminist in me just couldn't take it. 

In Conclusion: Keep Sweet was a decent book. I enjoyed it but I wasn't blow away by any means. If you are interested in the FLDS or cults then I would check out this book. It does tell what could be a realistic story from someone in the community. Very quick and interesting read.

Review: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: 08/04/15 by Putnam Juvenile
Series: Rebel Belle Series
Pages: 345 Pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Summary: 
Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

My Thoughts:
I had Rebel Belle on my TBR sine I heard people talk about it at the end of last year so when I saw it at my library I jumped on it. This was definitely an interesting story and one that I hadn't really read before (aside from the regular YA tropes). However in the end, there was lots of things that I liked about this book and at the same time there were a lot of just meh parts.  

So what did I like, I really enjoyed the use of Paladins. It was something original that I hadn't seen before. But what I didn't enjoy was the use of all the YA tropes and stereotypes. Sure, Harper wasn't a bad character but I've seen her character before. The seemingly perfect girl in high school who can do everything all at once and still remain awesome. I am tired of this character. She isn't bad, but I'm just over it right now. 

Now, the sequence of events was fast paced and interesting. I liked that it takes part during cotillion. I don't know a lot about the tradition besides what was portrayed in the movie She's The Man, 

So essentially nothing but I still find it interesting. What girl doesn't want to dress up in a gorgeous dress and be escorted by a gorgeous guy? And there are gorgeous boys in this book. I am a sucker for nerds, and David Stark sounds like my kind of guy. The romance involved is awesome and gave me some of the warm fuzzies. I find it hard to connect to a lot of YA romances but I liked this one. 

Conclusions: It was fun, interesting and pretty entertaining. I wasn't blown away by any means but I had a good time reading this one. Essentially, it was just the stereotypes/cliches that put me off a bit. Maybe I'm just getting tired of YA (OH NO). But in the end, not too shabby. I am planning on continuing this series but the second book isn't getting the best reviews. Sigh. But I wouldn't let that turn you away from this one. 

Review: Weightless by Sarah Bannan

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: YA Contemporary 
Publication: 06/30/15 by St. Martin's Griffin 
Pages: 336 pages
Format: e-ARC
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodread's Summary:
When 15-year-old Carolyn moves from New Jersey to Alabama with her mother, she rattles the status quo of the junior class at Adams High School. A good student and natural athlete, she’s immediately welcomed by the school’s cliques. She’s even nominated to the homecoming court and begins dating a senior, Shane, whose on again/off again girlfriend Brooke becomes Carolyn’s bitter romantic rival. When a video of Carolyn and Shane making out is sent to everyone, Carolyn goes from golden girl to slut, as Brooke and her best friend Gemma try to restore their popularity. Gossip and bullying hound Carolyn, who becomes increasingly private and isolated. When Shane and Brooke—now back together—confront Carolyn in the student parking lot, injuring her, it’s the last attack she can take.

My Thoughts:
Teenagers are just awful, so awful. Girls are awful, boys are awful. Bullying is awful. 

I am normally not a contemporary person, especially YA contemporary so I am the ideal audience for this book. However, if you are into contemporary about bullying go pick this book up. It is told by an un-named narrator which was interesting. She was just a regular girl, looking up to the popular clique, telling the story of what happened between Carolyn and the other girls. There is a lot of foreshadowing in this book, which builds and builds till the end. 

This book wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I just don't like to read about bullying. I don't like thinking that these kind of situations really happen in real life. Nothing crazy like this ever happened at my high school, so I never understand how these kinds of situations snowball to such awful proportions. The thing that really bothered me while reading this book is that the girls said such horrible things about each other. It bothers me so much, I am essentially this person:

I just have a lot of feelings OK. This book had a good message. Bullying really does hurt people and just standing aside and not doing anything is almost as bad. Contemporary isn't my genre so I wasn't completely engaged in this story but I can see it being popular in it's niche. If you are sensitive to topics like bullying, self harm or depression avoid this book. The characters in this book are awful too. I wanted to know more about the motives behind what happened. Why was Brooke so mean? Why is she so threatened by Carolyn? I don't get that, and I wish it went into more detail there. But that's difficult with the narration that it was told in. 

Conclusions: Definitely not a fun read, it covers some dark topics so be prepared. The narration is different which was interesting but also kind of hard to get into. The story was believable even if you don't want it to be. It really doesn't shy over any of the awful things people where saying. If you like contemporary that follows mental illness and bullying check this one out.

Reveiw: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication: 08/28/15 by Razorbill
Series: An Ember in the Ashes
Pages: 446 pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Thoughts: 
Whenever I start a a first book in a new series I tend to feel like this:

An Ember in the Ashes was no exception. I was fucking confused in the beginning and I wasn't drawn into the characters. There was a lot to learn about the world and it took me awhile to a handle on it. However, this is unlike any other YA book I have ever read. It definitely would appeal to a more mature audience. There was a lot of references rape, violence and general abuse. 

The biggest thing that took away from the book was how long it took me to get into it. I wasn't connected with any of the characters in the beginning. But as I kept reading, around 200 pages I finally started to feel something.

That last little bit is what really sold me on this novel. I really started to fall for the characters and the romances that are present. The plot was interesting and I really enjoyed the turns it took. However, I am getting tired of the one ruling empire vs the rebels dynamic. I feel like that's what every second I read is book is about and it's getting old. 

In Conclusion: I started this book pretty bored. It was only just okay until over halfway. After that it actually became pretty awesome. I was nether blown away or disappointed by this one. If fantasy is your thing, check this out. 

Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Published: 05/15/12
Series: The Royal Circle   {Companion Series}
Pages: 398 pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Summary: 

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--
and love comes at the highest price of all. 

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

My Thoughts:
I picked up this book because King Henry VIII is my guilty pleasure. I love him and his drama, I find it fascinating. So a few months ago I went on a trip to London and visited a bunch of the royal palaces; these included The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. After visiting I wanted to read something that took place there, during Henry's reign. I wanted to know the stories and secrets that those rooms held.

Me at Hampton Court Palace

Gilt fit that bill pretty well. It was told in the perspective of Kitty who was the best friend of Cat, or better known as Catherine Howard. If you know anything about Tudor history you know that Catherine was one of Henry's more "infamous" wives. This story was very guilty pleasure for me. It was easy to get wrapped up in the court lifestyle and gossip. I love all the affairs and flings that are going on and it keeps the story interesting.

However, the story isn't perfect. Cat can be very annoying and extremely self centred. Kitty was very dependant on Cat for everything which also bothered me. One thing I am starting to have a hard time with now is reading about the treatment of women during this era (and many other ones too). It's impossible to imagine how it would feel to be property to some old man twice my age. But this is common in so much of history and even in present day it makes me want to vomit.

Gilt, wasn't an amazing book but it was very interesting. If you are into the rise and fall of Catherine Howard then this book would be awesome to pick up. The characters aren't great but the life in court is so interesting I can't not like it. The one big thing is that I want to know more about Henry. I want to know how he feels and what he is thinking during all these major wife changes. He has a side to the story, and I want to know it so bad. But seriously, who couldn't love this face?

In Conclusion: Very interesting, however not the much "fun" book you will ever read. Definitely watch out for some beheading. I really liked knowing the story behind Catherine Howard, she's a very interesting one of Henry's wives. If you like Historical Fiction and the Tudors check this out.

Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling, Romance
Published: 05/12/15 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn
Pages: 388
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Amazon | Goodreads | Indigo

Goodreads Summary
Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all. 

Review:
This book seriously makes me want to watch Aladdin again. 

The Wrath and the Dawn is a fun, exotic, and interesting retelling of 1001 Nights. Even though I don't really even know the original... oppies. Ever since starting this book I have had the song "Arabian Nights" from Aladdin stuck in my head. I did really enjoy this book. My biggest problem with it was that I found the beginning quite slow. I wasn't invested in the story or the characters until after the first 1/4 of the book. However, I did eventually buy into the story and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I am a sucker for romance, I accept that as a fact in my life and don't deny myself cheesy romance. I really enjoyed Shazi and Khalid together, it might not be the easiest romance to buy into but I really enjoyed them. They definitely have chemistry, and you can really tell from the way the author described them together. However, I am going to be super annoyed if there is a love triangle going on in the next book. Shazi and Tariq have history but she knows she loves Khalid and doesn't feel any connection to Tariq anymore. 

Shazi is also a strong female character which is really good to see. She doesn't have to become strong, she just is from page one. I liked seeing her be brave at every turn because becoming Khalid's bride was incredibly brave. I also like how she doesn't want to be Khalid's possession, I am like that in my relationships too so I loved seeing that. Khalid is your fairly typical distant romantic interest. You know he is keeping a secret and most of the book which you are craving to find out what that is. I did like this plot point, I kind of guessed it early on but I still enjoyed it. You really learn why he is the way he is and you definitely feel for him.

One thing that I really loved in this book was the description of the food they were eating. OMG, it made me starving. I have been craving flat bread dipped in oil for days now. If Renee Ahdieh gives up on fiction, she could make a killing as a food blogger. 

Conclusion: The Wrath and the Dawn was pretty awesome. I can see why so many people enjoy it. If you love romance with substance this is for you. I can really see this book taking some interesting turns in the next instalment. I would definitely recommend this book, 2 thumbs up! 

Review: Trial By Fire - Josephine Angelini

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published: 09/02/14 by Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy
Pages: 374
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Stars
Amazon | Goodreads | Indigo

Goodreads Summary 
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear. Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

My Thoughts
Look at me, finally finishing a book! 

Trial by Fire took me forever to read. Not because it was bad but just because it did. Happens to the best of us. I enjoyed the ride that this novel took me on. It was very different from most of what I had read and it has witches. Very powerful witches. 

There were things that I really enjoyed about Trial by Fire and there were things that I didn't enjoy. I found that the narration of the story was confusing at times. It is told in Third Person but sometimes I feel like it switched to First Person and I got confused. Mostly it was third person which was refreshing at times. I enjoyed seeing multiple views without hearing everyone in first person. 

Now onto the plot, which for the most part I did enjoy. It follows Lily, who ends up being brought into an alternate version of Salem. My biggest problem while reading was that I didn't completely understand WHY she was brought into this world. I feel like there wasn't a solid reason, or if there was one I missed it. 

The romance however was awesome. It was exactly what was needed and worked well with the story. You can understand the motives of both the characters. In addition, there is some bromance that adds to the storyline. I enjoyed the side characters and all the magical elements. Very interesting.

I am a bit unsure of the science element in this novel. On one hand I absolutely loved it, I have my Bachelor's of Science and really enjoyed the use of the laws of thermodynamics in this novel. However, the villain was a crusade to eliminate science. Which I don't know if I liked. I love science and I makes me worried when fiction creates misconceptions about some of our greatest developments. I hope people know this a fictional world and before you draw conclusions please research the science in our world. 

Conclusions: Grips aside this was a very interesting novel and I am very interested to see where the series goes.  I found the magic system unique and I am attached to some of the characters. The second book in this series comes out in September and I will definitely be picking it up. 

Review: The Ugly Stepsister - Aya Ling

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retelling 
Published: 06/12/15 
Pages: 452
Format: ARC ebook, Netgalley
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Description: 

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she's magically transported into the world of Cinderella--as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she'll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

My Thoughts: 

Yup, I loved the shit out of this book. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did which makes the reading experience even better. This book is like when Pride and Prejudice meets Cinderella. It is a retelling of Cinderella but it is a version of Cinderella similar to Ever After (the movie) and less of the original tale. Kat, our leading lady, is a avid reader and makes hilarious references to books we all know and love (aka Harry Potter, Narnia, Jane Austin's). 

There was little that I didn't like about this book. The first I felt like the pacing at the beginning was very rushed but I didn't mind since that got us into the retelling super quick and that's what I was really there for. My biggest issues was the pretences that Kat was brought into "Story Land".  The book was made by goblins so when she broke it she was transported into the story. To get home she has to complete the story, I just found this a bit weird but I could overlook it for what actually happens during the story.

Now, what I love is everything else. I think I just love royalty but I  ship Prince Edward so hard it hurts. Kat describes him as Mr. Darcy but better looking. He is most definitely swoon worthy. There is a slow burn romance that literally killed me. My heart still hurts and I might have had a huge lump in my throat at the end. The romance is everything, and it hurts. 

The characters are all interesting and I really liked that it took place during the Social Season with all the ladies looking for suitors/husbands. There was also a good political subplot that gives this books so much more than just your basic retelling. I really loved this version of Cinderella. Highly recommend!